He lokede on his gode ringe, And þoute on reymild þe yenge. 652 He slow þer on haste An hundred at þe leste. [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] 656 Of þat þe were aryue, Fewe he leued on liue.
[Sidenote: [leaf 87]] He Lokede on is rynge, ant þohte o rymenyld þe ȝynge. 652 he sloh þer of þe beste an houndred at þe leste. ne mihte no mon telle alle þ{ a}t he gon quelle. 656 of þ{ a}t þer were o ryue he lafte lut o lyue.
[Sidenote: Horn fixes the leader’s head on the point of his sword, and bears it before the king.]
Horn tok þe maist{ er}es heued, Þ{ a}t he hadde him bireued, 660 And sette hit on his swerde, Anouen at þan orde. He verde hom in to halle, Among þe kniȝtes alle. 664
Þe meyst{ er} kinges heued He haddit him by reued. 660 He settit on hys swerde, Anoven on þe horde, Til he com to halle, Among þe knictes alle. 664
¶ Horn tok þe maister heued, þat he hi{ m} hade byreued, 660 ant sette on is suerde, abouen o þen orde. he ferde hom to halle, among þe knyhtes alle, 664
[Headnote: _Horn relates his adventure._]
“Kyng,” he sede, “wel þu sitte, And alle þine kniȝtes mitte. To day, after mi dubbing, So irod on mi pleing, 668 I fond o schup Rowe, Þo hit gan to flowe, Al wiþ sarazines kyn, And none londisse Men. 672 To dai, for to pine Þe { and} alle þine.
He seyde, “king, wel mote þou sitte, An þine knictes mitte. Þer y rod on my pleying, Sone haft{ er} my dobbing, 668 Y say a schip rowe Mid wat{ er}e al by flowe, Of none londische me{ n}ne, Bote sarazines ke{ n}ne, 672 To deye, for to pyne Þe and alle þine.
“Kyng,” quoþ he, “wel þou sitte, { ant} þine knyhtes mitte. to day ich rod o my pleyyng, after my dobbyng, 668 y fond a ship rowen, in þe sound byflowen, Mid vnlondisshe menne, of sarazynes kenne, 672 to deþe forte pyne þe { ant} alle þyne.
Hi gonne me assaille. Mi swerd me nolde faille; 676 I smot he{ m} alle to grunde, Oþer ȝaf he{ m} diþes wunde. Þ{ a}t heued iþe bri{ n}ge Of þe maist{ er} ki{ n}ge. 680 Nu is þi wile iȝolde, King, þat þu me kniȝti woldest.”
He go{ n}ne{ n} me asaylen. My swerd me ne wolde fayle; 676 Ich broute he{ m} alto grunde In one lite stounde. Þe heued ich þe bringe Of þe meyst{ er} kinge. 680 Nou ich haue þe yolde, Þat þu me knicte{ n} wolde.”
hy gonne me asayly. swerd me nolde fayly; 676 y smot hem alle to grounde in a lutel stounde. þe heued ich þe bringe of þe maister kynge. 680 nou haue ich þe ȝolde þat þou me knyhten woldest.”